PgCert Systemic Practice and Family Therapy
Queen's University Belfast
Student rating
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( 4.3)

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Qualification

Postgraduate Certificate

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Location

Queen's University Belfast

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Study mode

Part Time

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Start date

SEP-25

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Duration

1 year

Course info

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Qualification

Postgraduate Certificate

Location

Queen's University Belfast

Study mode

Part Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

1 year

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Sociology
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Course info

OverviewThe suite of multidisciplinary Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes are suitable for professionally qualified staff who wish to enhance their skills of working effectively with individuals, families, couples, other systems and relationship networks.There are three levels of systemic practice and family therapy training: PG Certificate (AFT accredited Foundation - Year 1), PG Diploma (AFT accredited Intermediate- Year 2) and MSc Systemic Psychotherapy (AFT accredited ...Read more

Overview

The suite of multidisciplinary Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes are suitable for professionally qualified staff who wish to enhance their skills of working effectively with individuals, families, couples, other systems and relationship networks.

There are three levels of systemic practice and family therapy training: PG Certificate (AFT accredited Foundation - Year 1), PG Diploma (AFT accredited Intermediate- Year 2) and MSc Systemic Psychotherapy (AFT accredited Qualifying level training - Years 3 and 4).

This one-year Postgraduate Certificate is the entrance programme to all levels of systemic training and must be undertaken before applying for other programmes.

The Postgraduate Certificate seeks to help practitioners in different settings and roles understand the core concepts of contemporary systemic practice and utilise systemic skills and techniques to maximise the therapeutic benefit for individual service users or relationships groups in their everyday work.

Systemic practice and family therapy helps people in close relationships to better understand and support each other. It enables individuals and family members to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build on family strengths, and work together to make useful changes in their relationships and their lives.

Systemic family therapy has been found to be effective across the life course in helping children, young people, adults, couples and families struggling with a broad range of difficulties and circumstances.

Systemic practitioners, and family and systemic psychotherapists work in many health and social care contexts across child and adult settings, including child and family support services, looked after children’s services, older people’s services, physical health and disability, substance use, justice and mental health services.

Please note that this course is not eligible for a Tier 4 visa.

Systemic Practice And Family Therapy Highlights

The Postgraduate Certificate in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy provides knowledge and skills which are highly valued in both child and adult services across health, justice and social care.

Professional Accreditations

All levels of Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes at Queen's are accredited by the Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice UK (AFT), a member organisation of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), and recognised by the relevant professions’ continuing professional development frameworks. The PG Certificate programme is aligned with the specialist award of the Professional in Practice CPD framework for Social Work of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

Key stats

Sociology
WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
5/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
35th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
25th

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally have a 2.2 Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification. Equivalent qualifications include the Pre-2007 Post-Qualifying Award in Social Work. Where this is not met, applicants must show their ability to study at postgraduate level through evidence of previous postgraduate training or completion of a reflective practice assignment. At least two references will be sought, one of whom must be the applicant’s current employer. At least one referee should be professionally qualified and be able to comment on the applicant’s current practice.

Tuition fees

Students living in

Domestic

£2,434 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Domestic

This is the fee you pay if the University is in the same country that you live in (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

£2,327 - This fee is also applicable to Republic of Ireland (ROI). Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

£3,083 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Other UK

This is the fee you pay if the University is not in the same country that you live in (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

£2,327 - This fee is also applicable to Republic of Ireland (ROI). Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

£7,166 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from somewhere in the EU.

Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

£7,166 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from a country outside the EU.

Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

IDP Connect

Uni info

Queen's University Belfast
University Road Belfast Northern Ireland BT7 1NN United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Balmoral   0.2 miles away
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